IMPHAL, August 24 (NNN): Altogether 23 children repatriated from Kerala have been handed over to their parents on Friday by Manipur Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai after being trafficked to that state for about two years giving false promises to the parents by five alleged child traffickers.
The children aged between 10 and 13 had been staying at Precious Home at Kochiyam in the State of Kerala, which is not registered with Juvenile Justice Act, since for the last two years after five alleged child traffickers, all from Ukhrul district, took them away from their parents on the pretext of giving them free education at the children home.
All the 23 minors–13 boys and 10 girls–were handed over to their parents by Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai during a simple function held at Takyel Observation Hall, Takyel. They were brought back here on August 15.Twenty-two of them are from Ukhrul district alone and the other one is from Imphal East district.
Five individuals from Ukhrul district went away to Kerala along with the children after they made a false promise to the parents to give them education in 2012 and left them at the Precious Home. But the children never received education at the children home during their stay at the children home for two years.
One May 12, 2011, Kerala police rescued the 10 girls from Thammanam, Ennakullam and the 13 boys from Precious Home. Thereafter, they were brought back to Pratiksha Home and Don Bosco Sneha Bhawan by Children Welfare Committee, Kerala and they put up there for about 11 months.
Later, a joint team comprising of Children Welfare Committee (CWC), Imphal East member secretary K Pradeepkumar, CWC, Bishnupur chairperson L Pishak and some representatives of the state Social Welfare Department visited Kerala on August 11 and brought back all the 23 children on August 18.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony of the 23 repatriated children from the state of Kerala, AK Mirabai assured they would be provided proper education. She also said the rescued children would also be given all the benefits available under all the Social Welfare sponsored schemes. The Minister emphasised the important role and sincere efforts of the parents in making them good individuals.
At the function, G Satyabati, Director, Social Welfare, A Presho Shimrey, MLA, Chingai constituency and members of CWC were also present.